Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: RCAT), a U.S.-based provider of advanced all-domain drone and robotic solutions for defense and national security, has announced a new contract and order for its Black Widow drone systems. The competitive acquisition was led by the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), an external bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Defense responsible for research and development, procurement, and project management of defense equipment. The end-user will be the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF).
The systems are expected to be delivered under Japan Fiscal Year 2026 (JFY26). Red Cat will fulfill the order in close coordination with Japanese partner HAMA K.K.
Each system includes not only Black Widow aircraft, but also the WEB ground control station and other mission-critical components.
“This agreement highlights the trust our international partners place in Red Cat to deliver secure, U.S.-built drone systems purpose-built for today’s battlefield,” said Jeff Thompson, CEO of Red Cat. “We’re honored to support Japan’s defense modernization with a portable ISR platform engineered for performance in contested environments. As geopolitical dynamics shift in the Asia-Pacific region, we see accelerating demand for autonomous, interoperable technologies that enhance allied operational readiness. This order underscores Red Cat’s growing role as a strategic partner in the region.”
Over time, Red Cat expects to deepen local industrial involvement, in close coordination with HAMA K.K., through a licensed manufacturing agreement and expanded in-country maintenance capabilities.
The Black Widow™ is Red Cat’s flagship small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS), engineered for tactical edge ISR missions with a compact, rugged design and secure communications architecture. Built in the U.S. and compliant with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the platform is a key part of Red Cat’s Family of Systems, offering modular, scalable solutions across multiple operational domains.
